William Pygot facts for kids

William Pygot was an English butcher who lived a long time ago, in the 1500s. He is remembered as a Protestant martyr, which means he died for his religious beliefs. His story was written down in a famous book called Foxe's Book of Martyrs.

William Pygot was burned to death in a town called Braintree, in Essex, on March 28, 1555. This happened because he disagreed with a specific religious teaching about the bread and wine used in church services.

Who Was William Pygot?

William Pygot was one of many people who faced difficult times for their beliefs during the reign of Queen Mary I. She wanted England to return to the Roman Catholic Church, and those who held Protestant views were often persecuted.

His Story Unfolds

According to a writer named John Foxe, William Pygot was questioned and sentenced to death along with several other men. These men included Thomas Tomkins, William Hunter, Stephen Knight, and John Lawrence. They were all judged by the Bishop of London, Edmund Bonner, on February 9, 1555.

A Brave Stand for Beliefs

Unlike some of the others, the old records don't say much about whether William Pygot suffered a lot in prison or if he was tortured. He was executed on the same day as Stephen Knight, who was burned in a nearby town called Maldon. William Pygot's death was a result of his strong disagreement with the idea of transubstantiation. This was a Catholic belief that the bread and wine used in the Eucharist (a church ceremony) actually turn into the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Protestants like Pygot often believed this was symbolic, not a literal change.

Remembering William Pygot

Even centuries later, William Pygot is still remembered in Braintree.

A Town's Tribute

When the Braintree Town Hall opened in 1928, the walls of the council chamber were painted with murals by an artist named Maurice Greiffenhagen. These paintings show the history of the town from Roman times up to the 1900s. One of the murals shows William Pygot just before he was burned. People believe the Town Hall stands on the very spot where he was executed, because it's so close to the old market place.

A Special Plaque

In 2012, a local group called the Braintree & Bocking Civic Society put up a special blue plaque to remember William Pygot's death. You can find this plaque on the wall of the library's courtyard. It helps people remember his story and the history of the town.